1937 Special Chanel Perfume Presentation

"Glamorous white satin Christmas gift box, inside nestles a special size bottle of any of the perfumes of Chanel. $10.00"

Stage, 1937:
"Inside nestles a special size bottle of any of the Perfumes of Chanel. $10.00 A beautiful crystal bottle of Chanel Perfume in Gardenia, No. 5, Cuir de Russie (Russia Leather), Glamour, or Jasmin"

Anatomy of a Fake Chanel Perfume Bottle

Look at the shape of the bottle, the shoulder of the bottle should be straight, not sloping like on this bottle.Also notice the boxes, the box on the right should be i two parts, where the bottle would fit snugly inside a base and a top would slide over the top of the bottle, then a small label would be placed over the seam to seal the two halves of the bottle in place. On this fake bottle set, you can see that it is just one box, and not the two halved box like it should be.

Beter view of the sloping shoulders and the stopper, which does not have the extra faceting as on a genuine Chanel bottle.

Showing the back of the fake bottle.

The bottom of the fake bottle. This says "Bottle Made in France" and has the entwined HP symbol, which is the mark of Pochet et du Courval. The bottle should have "Chanel" embossed into the base along with the maker's initials VB or BR for Verreries Brosse, the company who made Chanel's genuine perfume bottles.

Notice the overall look of the box, see how the black lines are uneven and the printing looks globby and not perfectly set.

The back of the outer box, the printing is very small and not perfectly set. The CC logo is slightly wrong too.

The front of the outer box, the printing is not perfectly set and the black lines are uneven.

FAKE Chanel Perfume ALERT!

Ebay item number 310570791968.

Please note that the bottle is incorrect, the stopper is incorrect and lacks the extra faceting that an authentic Chanel perfume would have. 

Chanel Perfume & The War

Theatre Arts, 1943:
"Imagine a long narrow street, winding round from a big harbor, crowded with soldiers and sailors ... but their chief attraction is large bottles of expensive French perfume, Guerlain, Chanel and Caron, £3 and £4 a bottle."

McCalls, 1943:
"But in Africa, as in all other places where goods are scarce and prices are not rigidly controlled, money often doesn't buy much. The same soldier who got a porter for a sourball found that Chanel No. 5 costs $125 a bottle in a shop in Cairo."

The University of Chicago Magazine, Volumes 37-38, 1944:

"The greatest battle he has yet encountered is the one at the leading perfume store in Paris. He writes that he came out of it with few bruises and a bottle of Christmas Night and Chanel No.5 to send back home."

Newsweek, 1944:
"There's such a shoe shortage that soldiers have discovered they can get most anything they want for a pair of Army castoffs . . . Some GI's report that three packs of U. S. cigarettes can be traded for a bottle of Chanel No. 5."

LIFE, 1945:

"PERFUME SHOPS were quickly sold out to GIs who stood in queues for Chanel and Guerlain, sometimes watered down, for about $4 a bottle."

Studio: Europe, 1945, John Groth wrote:
"GIs shopped for the few things that were within reach of their purses, souvenir cards and perfume. ... Of the thousands of American soldiers who passed through Paris every day, hardly any passed through without buying perfume. The shops on the rue Royale and the Place Vendome had queues of GIs and their officers. The magic words “Chanel No. 5” had reached the lonesomest foxhole in France...Everywhere I jeeped in France after the liberation, I was asked if I had been in Paris, and when I said yes, the first question was "How is the Chanel No. 5 holding out? If you're going back, will you buy me a couple of bottles?"


Four stars of hell - Page 326, 1947:
"One of the unexpected exceptions to the high-price rule in Paris was the cost of fine perfume— provided the soldier bought it ... Each morning at about eight o'clock, long lines of soldiers formed outside the main parfumeries— Chanel, Worth, Lanvin, Guerlain and others."

The marriage of diamonds and dolls - Page 151, 1947:
"Of these, only Chanel and Vionnet have been closed since the time of World War II and Chanel's accessory and perfume shop has been open because hundreds of American G.I.s stationed in Paris sent Chanel's No. 5 back to their sweethearts. It was the one perfume they could ask for without blushing at the name."

The Sands Ceased to Run - Page 24, 1947:

"Despite the high prices, GI's queued up outside perfumers' shops to buy for their wives and sweethearts flacons of Dans la Nuit and Chanel No. 5. Stocks ran out rapidly. "

Letters from fighting Hoosiers - Page 225, 1948:

"“I won a small bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume in a drawing at the Red Cross. ..That night while in the chow line, everyone in the line participated in the drawing and I was one of the lucky ones to win the perfume. I was indeed lucky as Chanel perfume, which is supposed to be the best, isn’t on the market at present. Production of it was halted during the war but will probably begin again soon. Girls in the perfume shops go crazy from soldiers wanting Chanel perfume and they don't have it. I could have sold my bottle for $45.00 to a WAC who was in the line behind me but I laughed and told her I was going to send it to my girl back home."


LIFE, 1954:
"AT CHANEL SALON, 31 Rue Cambon, she showed clothes throughout '20s and '30s. Later only a perfume shop, its Chanel No. 5 attracted hordes of GIs."

Chilton's Jewelers' Circular/keystone, 1954:

"And thousands of our servicemen, passing through France and other parts of the world where French perfume is sold, have sent home to their girls these famous bottles of liquid, marked starkly "Chanel # 5" as the most fragrant treasure to be had in Europe."

Chanel's Three Moods Presentation c1934

In 1934, Chanel introduced a three piece perfume presentation set which held quarter ounce glass flacons of any scent. This was known as the "Three Moods Presentation". The presentation box can be found in two different shapes: a round hat box shaped coffret meant to sit upon the vanity table, and a rectangular box meant for travel. Both boxes held three small bottles of perfume.

The Three Moods gift set was sold well into the 1960s and could be had in various different Chanel perfumes: Chanel No.5, Glamour, Gardenia, Bois des Isles, Cuir de Russie, Jasmin, Chanel No. 22, Chanel No.55.

Berkeley Daily Gazette, 1939 :

"Chanel feels that perfume induces various moods. He [sic] offers a package of three of his[sic] most exquisite perfumes. Gardenia, Chanel No. 5 and Glamour in the hope they will be conducive to your happiest most pleasant feelings. All three perfumes are definitely the last word in smells. The set called "Three Moods" is priced at $6.75."

The "Travel" set was housed in a rectangular presentation box:

The deluxe "Vanity" set was housed inside of a round hat box styled coffret.

Esquire, 1939:

" CHANEL THREE MOODS SET - Each bottle holds one quarter ounces of any three Chanel fragrances in a set. $12.00"

  

70 ounces of Chanel Perfume!

In 1961, a snippet was posted in the British magazine Country Life boasted  that "the largest single amount of scent put out for private consumption, I am told, is Mademoiselle Chanel's famous No. 5. This can be bought in a 70 oz. bottle that costs 200 guineas....Joy, by the house of Jean Patou, is said to be the most expensive scent in the world. A 1 oz bottle of Joy costs 13 guineas. A 1 oz. bottle of Joy costs 13 guineas, which seems to me to work out at 910 guineas for a 70 oz. bottle. Happily, perhaps, the house of Patou does not make one."

Concentrations & Ancillary Products

Concentrations & Ancillary Products:

• 1921 - Chanel No. 5 Extrait (Parfum/Perfume)
• 1924 - Eau de Toilette (splash)
• 1924 - Face Powder
• 1926 - Talc
• 1928 -1937  - Eau de Toilette (Cube Bottle) in Gardenia, Ambre, Chypre, Rose, and Magnolia.
• 1928 - 1937-  Eau de Toilette (Cylinder Bottle) in Jasmin and Bois Des Iles.
• 1930 - Lotion No. 5
• 1930 - Huile Tan Pour L'Ete/Tanning Oil
• 1932 - Savon de Toilette/Soap
• 1932 - Astringent pour L'Epiderme/Skin Tonic
• 1932 - Creme de Beaute/Face Cream
• 1937 - After Bath Powder
• 1938 - Dusting Powder
• 1939 - Eau de Cologne (splash)
• 1958 - Parfum Spray
• 1958 - Spray Cologne
• 1962 - Oil for the Bath/Bath oil/Huile de Bain
• 1966 - After Bath Oil 
• 1970 - The Voile Parfumee
• 1971 - Body Lotion
• 1971 - Eau de Chanel No. 5
• 1986 - Eau de Parfum (splash)
• 1997 - Eau de Parfum Spray
• 2005 - Chanel No. 5 Sensual Elixir
• 2007 - Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere

All differ slightly in their formulation, and only the Extrait Perfume contains rose oil and jasmine absolute from the Grasse region, and is sealed by hand in a method known as baudruchage. The Eau de Toilette and the Eau de Parfum differ also from one another not only in their concentration but also their formula, and are bottled and filled by machine. 

Drug and Cosmetic Industry - Volume 40 - Page 511, 1937:

"The Chanel gift package is an exquisite presentation of a crystal bottle in a satin jewel case, magnificent in its rich simplicity. It is a gift for all occasions."

A 1939 newspaper article in the Berkeley Daily Gazette reads: 

"We were pleased to discover that there is a recent arrival. Chanel's exquisite fragrances in the form of colognes is the thing to wear. And it's a mere suggestion of perfume, cologne's the thing to wear. And it's much more reasonable than perfume. A small bottle of Chanel's cologne in any of your favorite scents is $1.50. large size bottles $5.00. There's an awfully nice Chanel gift set too, cologne and talc in matching scents, beautifully boxed for $5.00."

1970s products in the white opaline bottles with silvertone trim.

Milk Bath: 4.5 oz. white opaline glass bottle holds powdered milk bath."To enjoy a luxurious skin-pampering beauty bath, pour one capful into the tub directly under running water. This freshly fragrant, natural milk bath billows into gentle bubbles, as it cleanses, softens, silkens and scents every inch of you."

Body Lotion: 6 fl. oz. white opaline glass bottle. "Pour a small amount of this rich, fragrant lotion into palms of hands and gently smooth all over the body until thoroughly absorbed. Moisturizes, smooths and silkens, as it glistens, glosses and subtly scents."

Body Lotion: 3 fl oz.plastic bottle. "A richly fragrant, emollient body lotion that leaves skin with an all-over smoothness. Apply lavishly, massaging into skin."

Body Powder: 6 oz. plastic bottle has a salt shaker type opening from which the powder comes out.

Bois des Iles c1926

Bois des Iles: launched in 1926, in US in 1929. Created by Ernest Beaux,who was assisted by Constantin Mikhailovich “Kot” Weriguine.

Gardenia de Chanel c1925

Gardenia: Gardenia is gorgeous floral bouquet and an admirable example of talent of the great perfume creator Ernest Beaux. Beaux created this exquisite perfume in 1925. Gardenia was available as parfum extrait, eau de Gardenia (eau de toilette) and eau de cologne. Chanel released face powder scented with the Gardenia essence around 1930.

Two 1930s Fake Chanel Perfumes

Here are two different fake Chanel perfumes, dating from the 1930s. Chanel did not use these type of bottles, note how unusual the stoppers are and the labels are incorrect also. I found these on ebay over the years and wanted to share them with you.

Fake Chanel No. 5

Fake Glamour de Chanel

Chanel No. 46 by Chanel c1945

Chanel No. 46 by Chanel: launched in 1945. The fragrance was developed by Ernest Beaux to celebrate the end of the Second World War.

1945 advertisement

Ivoire de Chanel c1932

Ivoire de Chanel was launched in 1932.

Mademoiselle Chanel No. 2 by Chanel c1945

Mademoiselle Chanel No. 2: created in 1945.

Unhappy with the quality of the perfumes that the Wertheimers were selling in her name through their newly minted Chanel, Inc. company in the USA, in 1945, Gabrielle took matters into her own hands.

Le 1940 Beige de Chanel c1931

Le 1940 Beige was launched in 1931.

Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel c1931

Le 1940 Bleu de Chanel was launched in 1931.

Le 1940 Rouge c1931

Le 1940 Rouge de Chanel was launched in 1931.

Glamour de Chanel c1933

Glamour de Chanel: created in 1933 by Ernest Beaux, the perfume was discontinued around 1949.

Cuir de Russie by Chanel c1924

Cuir de Russie: originally created in 1924 by Ernest Beaux, who was assisted by Constantin Mikhailovich “Kot” Weriguine. Probably introduced in America around 1936. Named Russia Leather for the American market. It was available in parfum extrait and eau de cologne. Discontinued in the mid 1970s.

Mademoiselle Chanel No. 1 by Chanel c1945

Mademoiselle Chanel No. 1: created in 1945. Created by an unknown perfumer.

Unhappy with the quality of the perfumes that the Wertheimers were selling in her name through their newly minted Chanel, Inc. company in the USA, in 1945, Gabrielle took matters into her own hands.

Chanel No. 5 by Chanel c1921

Chanel No. 5: Created for Christmas, 1921, and presented as a limited edition of only 100 flacons as a gift to Chanel's best customers. It was released for public for sale in the middle part of the year in 1922. Ernest Beaux composed this exquisite perfume using the newly invented aldehydes.